Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
Google Web Stories do show up in Google Image search, Google posted a correction, and fixed a Search Console bug. Google Ads posted no new news announcements in March 2023. Google Business Profiles amenity cards. Microsoft Copilot now shows in Google Analytics as a referrer. Google Search Recommendations for Business Profiles. And I posted my weekly SEO video recap – please subscribe. 🙂
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
This week we covered that Google is now testing SGE in the wild for a small subset of US users. Google is begging SEOs to stop doing SEO for Google…
Correction: Web Stories Still Show In Google Images & Google Fixes Search Console Reporting Bug
In February, Google told us that they stopped showing Web Stories in Google Image search results. Well, last night, Google issued a correction saying Google has been showing Web Stories in Google Images but the Web Stories icon does not show. To make things worse, Search Console had a bug where it was not reporting these impressions or clicks.
Google Ads Posted Zero New Feature Announcements In March 2024
Google Ads has not posted a new feature announcement in its new features & announcements help document in all of March 2024 (I know March is not over yet, but it almost is).
New Microsoft Copilot Referrer Data In Google Analytics
You can now see Microsoft Copilot, formerly Bing Chat, referrer data in your Google Analytics reports. Himanshu Sharma posted about this on X yesterday, he said, “Copilot has started sending referrer data to GA4.”
Google Search Recommendation For “Google Can Help You Stand Out”
Google Search has this “recommendation” for businesses to sign up for Google Business Profiles directly in the search results. It says “Google can help you stand out.” It directs you to set up a free account on Google Business Profiles.
Google has these new custom rooms plopped in the middle of common areas (maybe not plopped) in their New York City office. The company that installed them wrote on Instagram, “Our custom Google room with Radii Planet Group is looking great and could not be sturdier.”
Other Great Search Threads:
More from Google’s @johnmu on Core Web Vitals and ranking in the latest Search Off The Record podcast – in short – same old, Barry Schwartz on X
New status view update Ads Patrick Gehn found out that if you hover over the status of a product it will now show you the campaign that it is eligible for and which not., Adriaan Dekker on X
We’ve launched new dimensions and metrics to the GA4 Data API! This includes audienceID (The numeric identifier of an Audience), Primary Channel Group Dimensions — and Manual Traffic Source Dimensions (!!!). #GA4 #GoogleAnalytics See, Carly Boddy on X
When Google Search Quality Raters lose their job, Barry Schwartz on X
Help Needed: How to Remove Random Subdomains from My Domain?, Reddit
Search Engine Land Stories:
Google did not drop Web Stories from image results
Google still has not announced a launch date for SGE
Pinterest shares algorithm insights as it shifts focus to non-engagement signals
Google testing new tools for a more personalized shopping experience
YouTube announces enhanced audience retention analytics tools
Search Ads 360: 3 best practices for advanced PPC marketers
8 steps to maximize success during global site migrations
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Google Tag Manager : What is it? How do I use it?, Data Scientest
Industry & Business
Yandex N.V. provides an update on the divestment of its Russia-based businesses, Yandex
AI advertising start-up valued at $4bn after fundraising, Financial Times (Sub)
Links & Content Marketing
How To Combine PR and Content Marketing Superpowers To Achieve Business Goals, Content Marketing Institute
How to Outsource Content Writing: Comprehensive Guide, Semrush
Local & Maps
Google Maps getting cleaner homescreen, simplified bottom bar, 9to5Google
Google Teases New Google Maps Updates, a “Fresh New Look”, AutoEvolution
iOS 18 reportedly bringing these two upgrades to Apple Maps, 9to5Mac
Mobile & Voice
Google bringing Gemini Nano to Pixel 8 with next Feature Drop , 9to5Google
Why Apple Vision Pro could evolve similarly to the Apple Watch, AppleInsider
SEO
A Comprehensive On-Page SEO Checklist for 2024, Ahrefs
Charting 10 Years of The Google Algorithm, Moz
Deciphering INP and Core Web Vitals, Search Off the Record
Google’s Explosive March Updates: What I Think, BruceClay
Reinventing Search in an AI-First World, BrightEdge
SEO and CRO: How to Combine Strategies for Better Results, Semrush
SGE: How Google Wants to Take Over Online Retail, Onely
PPC
2024 Microsoft Advertising Global Partner Award winners, Microsoft Advertising
Google’s New Search Ads Metrics Definitions Changes Explained, ZATO Marketing
PPC Advertisers Guide To Google Consent Mode V2, PPC Hero
What Are Impressions on Google Ads and Are They Important?, Semrush
Other Search
Answer: When you’re looking for a term or concept but can’t quite say what it is?, SearchReSearch
Google.org shares new report on AI use among nonprofits, Google Blog
Google DeepMind unveils ‘superhuman’ AI system that excels in fact-checking, saving costs and improving accuracy, VentureBeat
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